Aerial back pack for use with a figure toy

ABSTRACT

A simulated aerial power pack accessory to be used in combination with a figure toy such as a doll. The simulated power pack is secured to the back of the torso portion of the figure toy by a belt fastened around the waist area of the torso. The simulated power pack includes a housing which is rotatably secured to a frame having overhead guide wheels which support the power pack and figure toy on a hand manipulatable guide wire secured at one end to a wall plate. The rotary connection of the simulated power pack housing to the overhead frame is such that the housing can be cocked and held as the simulated power pack and figure toy move by gravity down the guide wire toward the wall plate. The connection is spring loaded so that as the figure toy and accessory approach the wall plate in one direction, a trigger will engage the wall plate and the simulated power pack will rotate the figure toy 180* whereby the user can lower the free end of the guide wire and have the power pack move away from the simulated wall plate by gravity along the guide wire with the figure toy rotated to face the direction of travel. The simulated power pack further includes a pickup arm which is capable of picking up a target object from the wall plate. In another embodiment, the simulated power pack accessory includes a launchable missile positioned on the wall plate which can be launched by the simulated power pack as it engages a trigger on the wall plate.

'United States Patent 1191 Schoenr'ield 1 Dec. 16, 1975 AERIAL BACK PACK FOR USE WITH A FIGURE TOY [75] Inventor: Palmer J. Schoenfield, Evanston, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates,

Chicago, Ill.

22 Filed: Sept. 12, 1974 21 Appl. N0.2 505,594

3,331,153 7/1967 Woods 46/202 Primmy ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Coffee & Sweeney [5 7] ABSTRACT A simulated aerial power pack accessory to be used in combination with a figure toy such as a doll. The siml-n 1o 72 7 11' ulated power pack is secured to the back of the torso portion of the figure toy by a belt fastened around the waist area of the torso. The simulated power pack includes a housing which is rotatably secured to a frame having overhead guide wheels which support the power pack and figure toy on a hand manipulatable guide wire secured at one end to a wall plate. The rotary connection of the simulated power pack housing to the overhead frame is such that the housing can be cocked and held as the simulated power pack and figure toy move by gravity down the guide wire toward the wall plate. The connection is spring loaded so that as the figure toy and accessory approach the wall plate in one direction, a trigger will engage the wall plate and the simulated power pack will rotate the figure toy 180 whereby the user can lower the free end of the guide wire and have the power pack move away from the simulated wall plate by gravity along the guide wire with the figure toy rotated to face the direction of travel. The simulated power pack further includes a pickup arm which is capable of picking up a target object from the wall plate. In another embodiment, the simulated power pack accessory includes a launchable missile positioned on the wall plate which can be launched by the simulated power pack as it engages a trigger on the wall plate.

15 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 shw 1 of2 3,925,924

U.S. 'Patant Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,925,924

AERIAL BACK PACK FOR USE WITH A FIGURE TOY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years there has been the provision of a great number of different types of figure toys which are capable of performing simulated human movements or acts in conjunction with various accessories. There has further been the development of figure toys and accessories which apparently can participate with the child in some sort of activity. These figure toy and accessory combinations which appear capable of simulating human acts are of considerable fascination and enjoyment to children. This invention is directed toward meeting the need and desire in the art to provide improved accessories for figure toys so as to make them capable of simulating human activities while participating with the child.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the simulated power pack accessory of this invention being used in combination with a figure toy, showing the combination two positions approaching and leaving a wall plate;

FIG. 2 is a front to rear vertical section as the simulated power pack impinges the wall plate;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section through the wall plate showing the simulated power pack accessory in elevation and in position moving away from the wall plate after it has rotated the housing 180;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational'view of the simulated power pack assembly with the pickup arm removed;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, taken generally along the line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pickup arm component;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to the top position in FIG. 1 showing an alternate embodiment of the wall plate and with the pickup arm removed;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2 of the alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a horizontal section taken generally along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention, referring to FIG. 1, provides a simulated power pack unit, generally designated 10, which is adapted to be secured to the back of the torso portion of a figure toy 12 so as to hold the figure toy in a generally upright vertical position as the power pack transverses a string or guide wire 14 which is held taut by the user. The direction of travel of the figure toy and accessory can be determined by changing the angle of the string 14 with respect to the horizontal.

The accessory 10 includes a generally hollow, rectangular back pack portion, generally designated 16, a guide means or support frame, generally designated 18, for engagement with the guide wire and rotatable means in the form of a connector or rotator, generally designated 20, interspaced between the rectangular housing 16 and the guide means 18. A wall plate, generally designated 22, also is included with the accessory for attachment of the guide wire 14, as well as other functions which will be described in detail hereinafter.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the rotatable means 20 comprises a rotator and actuator including an upper disc portion 26 and a lower disc portion 28. The upper disc 26 contains a second thickened central circular portion 30 which engages a circular flange 32 on the lower disc 28. The discs 26 and 28 are relatively rotatable by means of a central shaft 34 which is formed integrally with the lower disc 28. A biasing means, generally designated 36 (FIG. 5), is provided to rotate the discs relative to one another. The biasing means comprises resilient means in the form of a rubberband 38 which is wrapped at one end around a stud 40 formed on the lower disc 28 and another stud 42 which is formed on the thickened portion 30 of the upper disc 26. Thus, when stretched, the rubberband 38 constantly urges the lower disc 28 to move in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 5) relative to the upper disc 26.

The rotatable means 20 is provided with two stationary positions, namely a preset position where the biasing means is under tension, as shown in FIG. 2, and a rotated release position where the biasing means is not under tension, as shown in FIG. 3. The biasing means 38 constantly urges the lower disc 28 to rotate from the preset position to the release position.

A selectively operable locking device, generally designated 46, is provided to maintain the rotatable means in its preset position. An upwardly directed flange 52 is secured to the top of the upper disc 26 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). A notch 54 (FIG. 5) is provided in the lower disc 28 and a tab 56 (FIG. 5) also is provided in the lower disc 28 diametrically opposite the notch 54. A vertically pivotable locking plate 48 is pivotally mounted to the flange 52 on a horizontal pivot pin 57 so as to engage within the notch 54 when the rotatable means 20 is in the preset position (FIGS. 2 and 5). When the plate 48 is pivoted upwardly in the direction of arrow B (FIG. 2), the resilient band 38 will cause the lower disc to rotate 180 in the direction of arrow A until the tab 56 contacts the locking plate 48 and stops further travel. Thus, as the locking means 46 is actuated, the lower disc 28 will rotate approximately 180 relative to the upper disc 26 causing the back pack portion 16 and figure toy to rotate therewith.

The guide means 18, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, includes two rotatably mounted, grooved pulley-type wheels 58 secured to the uppermost edge of the flange 52. The guide means 18 will thusly support the accessory 10 on the guide wire or string 14, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

The rectangular housing 16 is secured to the lower plate 28 of the rotatable means by two depending flanges 60 which are secured to the side of the housing 16. An elastic belt 62 is permanently secured to one side of the housing 16 and detachably secured to the other side of the housing so that a doll or figure toy may be easily inserted therein. The rectangular housing includes two upwardly directing rear tabs 64 which provide a mounting channel for a pickup arm, generally designated 68 (FIG. 6). The pickup arm 68 includes a central rib 70 having a magnetic pickup portion 72 on one end and an attachment grooved flange 74 on the opposite end. Side grooves 75 (FIG. 6) of the flange engage with the tabs 64 of the housing 16. Two downwardly extending braces 76 are formed on the bottom portion of the pickup arm for contact with the back portion of the housing 16 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The simulated power pack accessory unit described above is to be used in combination with one of several types of wall plate items described below.

One embodiment of the wall plate 22 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The wall plate 22 comprises a generally flat plate 82 which has a plurality of angled portions 84 secured to the periphery thereof. Two suction cups 86 (FIG. 2) are provided on the back of the wall plate to fasten it to a wall or other vertical structure. Toward the uppermost center of the plate portion 82 there is provided an outwardly protruding trip pad 88 which is secured to the plate 82 by an outwardly directing stud 90. The string or guide wire 14 is fastened to the wall plate 22 through a hole in the center of the trip pad 88 and the stud 90. A recessed portion 94 is provided generally in the central area of the plate 82 to provide a station for supporting a target or pickup object 96. The target object 96 is provided with a metallic or other magnetic plate 98 so that when the magnetic pickup 72 on the outer end of the pickup arm 68 contacts the target object 96 the magnetic forces will secure the target or pickup object to the end of the pickup arm 68.

Thus, in operation, the user of the accessory will cause the back pack and figure toy combination to roll down the supporting guide wire 14 by holding the free end of the guide wire at a higher elevation than the center of the trip pad 90 (FIG. 1, top) until the locking plate 48 contacts the trip pad 88. This contact will pivot the locking plate 48 upwardly out of the notch 54 in the lower disc 28 whereby the biasing means will cause the figure toy and simulated power pack accessory to be rotated 180, bringing the pickup arm into contact or at least proximity with the target object 96. The user then lowers the free end of the string or guide wire 14 (FIG. 1, bottom) so as to move the figure toy away from the wall plate, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, under gravity as the wheels 58 roll down the guide wire.

Turning now to the alternative embodiment of the wall plate 22a shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, all of the components of the simulated power pack portion of the accessory are identical to those above described except for the fact that the pickup arm 68 is removed from the rectangular housing portion 16. The wall plate 22a includes a similar plate 100 having a plurality of angled flanges 102 at various positions around the periphery thereof. The plate 100 includes two suction cups 104 for securing the wall plate to a vertical wall. In this embodiment a movable trip pad 106 is slidably supported in a square tubular slide member 107 provided on the plate 100 at a position below the point wherethe guide wire 14 is attached to the plate 100. The member 107 acts as a cylinder which receives a flanged piston 106a (FIG. 9) protruding from the rear of the trip pad 106. The trip pad 106 is biased outwardly from the plate 100 by a spring 108. A release pin 110 is secured to the back of the trip pad 106 and extends rearwardly through a hole 112 in the plate 100 (FIGS. 8 and 9). A vertical, rectangular hollow housing 114 is provided on the back of the plate 100 to mount a launchable missile, generally designated 116 (FIG. 8). The missile comprises a long stem portion 118 and a blunt spherical end portion 120. A notch or groove 122 is formed in the stem portion 118 to receive a tab 124 within the housing 114. A spring 128 is provided in the base portion of the housing 114 for launching the missile. The missile 116 is readied for launching by depressing the missile against the force of the spring 128 until the notch 122 engages with the tab 124. Then, as the figure toy and simulated power pack accessory approach the wall plate 22a, the locking plate 48 will engage and depress the trip pad 106 which causes the release pin to contact the stem portion of the missile 118, thereby releasing the notch 122 from the tab 124, and allowing the spring 128 to eject the missile 116 from the rectangular housing. Then, as described above, the simulated power pack accessory will rotate the figure toy and the figure toy can be moved away from the wall plate 22a by lowering the guide string to the bottom position as shown in FIG. 1 as the missile is thrust upwardly into the air.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. An aerial pack accessory for use with a figure toy or the like, comprising: a housing having a securing device for securing the housing to the figure toy, guide means supporting the figure toy for movement along a guide wire or the like having at least one end secured to a wall or similar support, and a rotatable connector between the housing and the guide means for pivoting the supported figure toy relative to the supporting guide wire.

2. The accessory of claim I wherein said guide means includes a support frame for supporting the housing on the guide wire and providing for movement by gravity of the housing and supported figure toy along the guide wire whereby a free end of the guide wire may be raised to cause the figure toy to move toward the wall and lowered to cause the figure toy to move away from the wall.

3. The accessory of claim 1 wherein said connector includes a rotator having an actuator for automatically rotating the connector in response to engagement of the actuator with the wall.

4. The accessory of claim 3 wherein the rotator includes a biasing spring operatively associated with said actuator for rotating the connector from a preset position to a release position under the force of the biasing spring.

5. The accessory of claim 4 wherein the actuator includes a locking device for holding the rotator in the preset position and releasing the rotator when the locking device engages the wall.

6. The accessory of claim 3 wherein said guide means includes a support frame for supporting the housing on the guide wire and providing for movement by gravity of the housing and supported figure toy along the guide wire whereby a free end of the guide wire may be raised to cause the figure toy to move toward the wall and lowered to cause the figure toy to move away from the wall.

7. The accessory of claim 1 including a pickup arm extending outwardly from the housing and a magnetic pickup secured to the end of the pickup arm for engaging and holding a magnetic target object.

8. The accessory of claim 7 including a wall mountable plate having a station for supporting the target object such that it will engage the magnetic pickup when the housing is adjacent the wall.

9. The accessory of claim 1 including a wall mountable plate having a movable biased trip operatively associated with a biased launchable missile so that upon contact by a portion of the accessory the trip releases the missile.

10. An aerial pack accessory for use with a figure toy or the like, comprising: a housing having means for securing the same to the figure toy, a frame rotatably secured to the housing, said frame having biasing means to rotate the housing relative to the frame from a cocked position to a released position, a trigger mounted on the frame for holding the housing in its cocked position, the trigger being actuatable on engagement with a wall or the like to release the housing for movement to its released position, a hand manipulatable guide wire attachable at one end to a wall, and guide means on the frame for supporting the accessory for movement by gravity along the guide wire whereby the accessory and figure toy will travel down the guide wire toward the wall when the other end of the guide wire is in a raised position relative to the point of attachment to the wall, and upon engagement of the trigger with the wall the trigger will release the housing and thereby rotate the figure toy, the housing and figure toy then being movable away from the wall by lowering the other end of the guide wire below the point of attachment of the wire to the wall.

1 1. The accessory of claim including a pickup arm extending outwardly from the housing and a magnetic pickup secured to the end of the pickup arm for engaging and holding a magnetic target object.

12. The accessory of claim 11 including a wall mountable plate having a station for supporting the target object such that it will engage the magnetic pickup when the housing is adjacent the wall.

13. The accessory of claim 12 including a wall mountable plate having a movable biased trip operatively associated with a biased launchable missile so that upon contact by a portion of the accessory the trip releases the missile.

14. The accessory of claim 10 wherein said biasing means rotates the housing about a generally vertical axis whereby the figure toy can be secured to the housing so as to face the wall in said cocked position and face away from the wall in said released position thereby always facing the direction of travel when the guide wire is so manipulated.

15. An aerial pack accessory for use with a figure toy or the like, comprising: a housing having a securing device for removably securing the housing to the figure toy, guide means including a support frame for supporting the figure toy for movement along a guide wire or the like, and a guide wire for positioning beneath said support frame, one end of the guide wire being securable to a wall or the like whereby the free end of the guide wire may be raised to cause the aerial pack accessory to move toward the wall and lowered to cause the aerial pack accessory to move away from the wall to carry the removably secured figure toy therewith. 

1. An aerial pack accessory for use with a figure toy or the like, comprising: a housing having a securing device for securing the housing to the figure toy, guide means supporting the figure toy for movement along a guide wire or the like having at least one end secured to a wall or similar support, and a rotatable connector between the housing and the guide means for pivoting the supported figure toy relative to the supporting guide wire.
 2. The accessory of claim 1 wherein said guide means includes a support frame for supporting the housing on the guide wire and providing for movement by gravity of the housing and supported figure toy along the guide wire whereby a free end of the guide wire may be raised to cause the figure toy to move toward the wall and lowered to cause the figure toy to move away from the wall.
 3. The accessory of claim 1 wherein said connector includes a rotator having an actuator for automatically rotating the connector in response to engagement of the actuator with the wall.
 4. The accessory of claim 3 wherein the rotator includes a biasing spring operatively associated with said actuator for rotating the connector from a preset position to a release position under the force of the biasing spring.
 5. The accessory of claim 4 wherein the actuator includes a locking device for holding the rotator in the preset position and releasing the rotator when the locking device engages the wall.
 6. The accessory of claim 3 wherein said guide means includes a support frame for supporting the housing on the guide wire and providing for movement by gravity of the housing and supported figure toy along the guide wire whereby a free end of the guide wire may be raised to cause the figure toy to move toward the wall and lowered to cause the figure toy to move away from the wall.
 7. The accessory of claim 1 including a pickup arm extending outwardly from the housing and a magnetic pickup secured to the end of the pickup arm for engaging and holding a magnetic target object.
 8. The accessory of claim 7 including a wall mountable plate having a station for supporting the target object such that it will engage the magnetic pickup when the housing is adjacent the wall.
 9. The accessory of claim 1 including a wall mountable plate having a movable biased trip operatively associated with a biased launchable missile so that upon contact by a portion of the accessory the trip releases the missile.
 10. An aerial pack accessory for use with a figure toy or the like, comprising: a housing having means for securing the same to the figure toy, a frame rotatably secured to the housing, said frame having biasing means to rotate the housing relative to the frame from a cocked position to a released position, a trigger mounted on the frame for holding the housing in its cocked position, the trigger being actuatable on engagement with a wall or the like to release the housing for movement tO its released position, a hand manipulatable guide wire attachable at one end to a wall, and guide means on the frame for supporting the accessory for movement by gravity along the guide wire whereby the accessory and figure toy will travel down the guide wire toward the wall when the other end of the guide wire is in a raised position relative to the point of attachment to the wall, and upon engagement of the trigger with the wall the trigger will release the housing and thereby rotate the figure toy, the housing and figure toy then being movable away from the wall by lowering the other end of the guide wire below the point of attachment of the wire to the wall.
 11. The accessory of claim 10 including a pickup arm extending outwardly from the housing and a magnetic pickup secured to the end of the pickup arm for engaging and holding a magnetic target object.
 12. The accessory of claim 11 including a wall mountable plate having a station for supporting the target object such that it will engage the magnetic pickup when the housing is adjacent the wall.
 13. The accessory of claim 12 including a wall mountable plate having a movable biased trip operatively associated with a biased launchable missile so that upon contact by a portion of the accessory the trip releases the missile.
 14. The accessory of claim 10 wherein said biasing means rotates the housing about a generally vertical axis whereby the figure toy can be secured to the housing so as to face the wall in said cocked position and face away from the wall in said released position thereby always facing the direction of travel when the guide wire is so manipulated.
 15. An aerial pack accessory for use with a figure toy or the like, comprising: a housing having a securing device for removably securing the housing to the figure toy, guide means including a support frame for supporting the figure toy for movement along a guide wire or the like, and a guide wire for positioning beneath said support frame, one end of the guide wire being securable to a wall or the like whereby the free end of the guide wire may be raised to cause the aerial pack accessory to move toward the wall and lowered to cause the aerial pack accessory to move away from the wall to carry the removably secured figure toy therewith. 